Strength Without Compromise: Womanly Influence and Political Identity in Turn-of-the-Twentieth Century Rural Upstate New York

by Teri P. Gay, Various (Illustrator)

Inspired by the true story of Lucy Allen, Chloe Sisson, and the Political Equality Club of small-town Easton, New York, this book focuses on the quest for female political equality as carried out by suffragists in the rural areas of upstate New York at the turn of the 20th century. Embracing their womanliess for their noble cause, these ladies organized to educate and inspire each other, their communities, and New York State about the wisdom of including women in the voting electorate.

167 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Born and raised in Glens Falls, New York, Teri (nee Podnorszki, then Ulrich) Gay graduated from Glens Falls High School in 1977. She went on to St. Lawrence University, graduating summa cum laude in 1981 with a B.A. in Government and teaching certification in Social Studies. Her Masters work (in Secondary Education) was done at Central Connecticut State University.

Teri worked for CIGNA Corporation from 1981 to 1987, and then taught social studies at the middle school and high school levels. She had long been a writer and was interested in regional history and began her professional career in this field after leaving teaching to raise her family. She worked as an historian and a writer for many years in Glens Falls and Warren County, New York.

She was appointed Historian in Malta, New York in October 2004. In 2007, she completed the writing, editing, and compilation of Malta Memories (published by Adirondack Press, Saratoga Springs, NY), a book of stories and recollections of life in Malta in the twentieth century. She retired from the Town of Malta in 2008 in order to pursue her career as a writer on a full-time basis.

She is the proud mother of three sons, two step-daughters, and eight step-grandchildren. She lives in Charlton, New York with her family and their black lab, Bear.

Reviews

[Fran Szpylczyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be back with a more comprehensive review, but I was struck by the lives of these women in ways I never imagined. Of course I have always been "for" the suffrage movement, but I had no knowledge of this chapter of the movement. Very impressive scholarship and research, and highly readable.

[Noel C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched, well written book about the women's suffrage movement in upstate New York in the early 1900's. Thoroughly enjoyable to read with many surprising facts. Well Done!

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It pieces together fragments I knew previously. However, the story of these strong, committed women and their family members is not widely known. We know the major names in the suffrage movement but little is known about the women right here in Central and Western New York State.

I am pleased to have learned to much more and hope that history books, especially those about NYS, fill in this data that has been lacking. Ancestors of these families undoubtedly live among us today. We need more heroines, and here they are for us to learn from.

The author includes extensive Notes and Bibliography for further study. Brava!!

Highly recommended.

[Dave Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Chloe Peckham Sisson was my great-great-grandmother and Sophia Fort Sisson was my great-grandmother. About half of the other members of the Easton PEC and/or their spouses were cousins at various removes, as is to be expected in a rural area in that era.

An interesting read. The efforts of these people and thousands like them were key to correcting the cultural error that women were somehow less capable than men in making informed choices in a democratic government.